PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rodrigo Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaius Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cruz
vs
Vega

175 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
308 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rodrigo Cruz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gaius Vega!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Cruz with that takedown attempt.
Cruz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Vega gets caught flat footed, as Cruz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vega is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cruz is controlling him.
Cruz trying to control but Vega is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rodrigo Cruz just wasn't active enough.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Vega sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cruz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cruz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vega sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cruz somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz throws a right and a left that Vega avoids nicely.
Vega swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vega connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vega paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cruz tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vega connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch combination from Cruz misses.
Vega stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cruz tries to clinch up.
Vega swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vega displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cruz.
Cruz looks for a takedown but Vega sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Cruz dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cruz looks to land a combination but Vega avoids it well.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vega as he avoids it easily.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Vega sprawls well.
Rodrigo Cruz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruz tries to clinch but Vega moves out of range.
Cruz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vega keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vega defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cruz.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Vega swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Cruz here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Vega circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz tries to close the distance and clinch but Vega swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cruz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Cruz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vega blocks a leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cruz is defended easily by Vega.
Cruz wants to clinch up but Vega keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Vega pushes him off.
Cruz tries to clinch but Vega is having none of it.
Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Vega counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Rodrigo Cruz has been cut.
Vega slips under a jab from Cruz.
Cruz fails with a takedown attempt.
Vega avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is looking to clinch but Vega is avoiding it.
Rodrigo Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown but Vega shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Cruz shoots for a double leg takedown but Vega sprawls well. He's pushed Cruz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cruz is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Cruz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Cruz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Vega manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vega keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cruz shoots in and drives through. Vega sprawls well.
Cruz misses with a leg kick.
Cruz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vega.
Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Vega circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vega's waist but Vega gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cruz off to one side.
Cruz misses with a takedown
and Vega counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrigo Cruz. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gaius Vega is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vega leaves Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cruz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Vega avoids it really well and circles away.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vega as he jumps to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt - Vega sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vega defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
Cruz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vega is fending him off so far but Cruz persists. Nope, Vega circles away and we're back to standing.
Cruz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vega is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruz misses with a takedown attempt
and Vega counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vega counters with a three punch combo that has Cruz backing up. Cruz nods at Vega to acknowledge the strikes.
Cruz tries to clinch up but Vega circles away and keeps his distance.
Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vega pinned against the cage. Vega gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Cruz shoots in but Vega avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gaius Vega has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Vega as Cruz shoots in.
Vega swats away the attempt to clinch by Cruz.
Vega keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cruz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vega as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rodrigo Cruz.
Well Cruz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Cruz!